Samuel L. Jackson is famous for his roles in action movies, like those by directors Spike Lee and Quentin Tarantino. He’s also known for being in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Nick Fury. But before becoming the know-it-all head of S.H.I.E.L.D., he gained fame through the anime Afro Samurai.
Afro Samurai is a Japanese manga series created by Takashi Okazaki. It’s about a legendary warrior. This is similar to a book titled African Samurai: The True Story of Yasuke, a Legendary Black Warrior in Feudal Japan.
In the TV mini-series Afro Samurai that aired in 2007, Samuel L. Jackson voiced the main character, Afro Samurai, and his partner, Ninja Ninja.
Creative Fusion: How Takashi Okazaki Got The Inspiration for Afro Samurai
As a teenager, Takashi Okazaki began drawing African-American characters on items such as Kleenex boxes. He drew inspiration from hip-hop and soul music. He also took ideas from American media’s portrayal of Japanese culture.
Over time, he merged these influences, incorporating elements of samurai into his artwork. This led to the creation of the character Afro, which was based on the legendary black samurai Yasuke from Japan’s Sengoku period.
Afro Samurai story’s plot is straightforward: In a unique world blending swords, guns, kimonos, cell phones, and cybernetic body parts, Afro Samurai, a black samurai, seeks revenge against Justice, the man who killed his father and is also the world’s top fighter.
After Afro becomes the #2 fighter, which is required to challenge #1, he embarks on a solitary journey for revenge. He encounters bounty hunters, bar thugs, and devoted monks, all of whom possess hints about Justice’s whereabouts and aim to claim the position. Throughout his journey, we meet Afro’s talkative companion, the lighthearted Ninja Ninja.
The main characters, Afro Samurai and Ninja Ninja, in the series are voiced by the Marvel actor Samuel L. Jackson, and these characters led to the actor’s fame even before his career in MCU.
Takashi Okazaki’s Manga Journey from Nou Nou Hau
Takashi Okazaki began writing the original manga, originally called Afro Samurai! when he and his friends independently published an art magazine called Nou Nou Hau.
They released a preliminary issue 0 of Nou Nou Hau in November 1998, featuring Afro Samurai artwork on the cover.
Okazaki wrote the entire manga in English, drawing inspiration from both English and Japanese comics. He even used Afro Samurai for a cat food advertisement in the final pages of his manga book. In addition to producing the anime, Okazaki revisited the dōjinshi, improving his artistic skills.
Notably, the original Afro Samurai manga artwork, which was featured in issue 0 of Nou Nou Hau, was displayed at the KRAZY!: The Delirious World of Anime + Manga + Video Games exhibition at the Japan Society from March 13 to June 14, 2009.
